Event 1 - £1,500 No Limit Hold'em Day 1a | 2008 World Series of Poker Europe

09-19-2008 23:09 UTC+2

The Suit Fits Seidel

MarcC

Erik Seidel raises to 1,600 from early position, before the short-stacked Stuart Taylor moves all in for 3,900 from the button. It's folded back around to Seidel, who makes the call with {10-Clubs}

and he's racing Taylor's {K-?}

.

The board comes {6-Spades}

.

An overcard comes but it's the wrong one, meaning Taylor is the first victim from this table since our return.

Seidel on 18,000 right now.

Tags: Erik Seidel

09-19-2008 23:21 UTC+2

A four piece all-female band had just set up less than ten yards away from where a few of our tables are situated. They didn't even make it all the way through their rendition of "Fever" before some players started complaining.

To be fair, the volume was very loud and it must have been a big distraction. One player, who was particularly close to the band, resorted to turning around and telling them to, "Shut up!"

Needless to say one song was all we got.

09-19-2008 23:32 UTC+2

Channing Not Feeling It

[user22113]

Neil Channing was one of those slightly bemused by the music and singing going on behind him, though he admitted that today he wasn't really "feeling it." For the tournament that is, not the music.

"I've misplayed two hands today. And this really is an all-in or pass tournament, so you can't afford to misplay hands."

He's currently under pressure with around 9,000.

Tags: Neil Channing

09-19-2008 23:33 UTC+2

Trickett or Treat

MarcC

Sam Trickett raised to 1,600 from early position before an opponent, two seats along, reraised all in for 10,750. It was folded back to Trickett, who snap-called with {A-Diamonds}

and he had his opponent in big trouble holding {10-Spades}

.

The board ran {3-Spades}

.

The first piece of bad news came for Trickett on the flop, and the second piece came on the river. Aces cracked sending the on-form Trickett back down to 6,300.

Tags: Sam Trickett

09-19-2008 23:51 UTC+2

No Blank for Blanco

[user22113]

Cristiano Blanco raises from UTG to 1,800 and is called by the big blind, a young, Scandinavian-looking kid. They see a flop of {K-Clubs}

and the big blind checks, Blanco then bets 3,700 into the pot, only to see his opponent quickly reraise all in for an additional 10,225.

Blanco counts out the extra chips, which represents the majority of his stack, and then decides to make the call with his {A-Hearts}

. It's ahead, but vulnerable to the drawtastic {J-Spades}

that the big blind shows. The turn is the {3-Diamonds}

but the river is not the two pair the Italian wants to see, as it's the {A-Clubs}

, leaving him crippled and propelling his opponent up to almost 30,000.

Tags: Cristiano Blanco

09-19-2008 23:54 UTC+2

Brian Johnson on the Upswing

[user25067]

The player in the hijack seat opened for 1,800, Brian Johnson raised to 3,400 from the button, the small blind flat-called and the hijack called as well. The flop came down {8-Spades}

. The small blind checked to the hijack, who bet 5,000, prompting an all-in shove from Johnson for 10,250. The small blind insta-mucked, but the hijack tanked a while, disgustedly mucking his cards in the end.

Coming back from the dinner break with 25,000 and dipping as low as 12,000 at one point, Johnson is now up to a healthy 30,000.

09-19-2008 23:58 UTC+2

Color-Up

[user25067]

The action has been paused between levels while the green 25-denomination chips are colored up and raced off the tables.

09-20-2008 00:03 UTC+2

And Away We Go...

[user25067]

Action has resumed for what will be the last level of the evening.

The last level? What's that you say? Weren't they supposed to play ten levels, not eight?

The rate of bust-outs has been so rapid today that the tournament directors made the decision to conclude play at the end of Level 8 instead of the end of Level 10, excellent news for the players who will be able to catch some extra sleep (or hit the bar for a drink) tonight.

Level: 8

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 100

09-20-2008 00:10 UTC+2

The Abacus Down for the Count

[user25067]

Michel "The Abacus" Abecassis got his remaining 9,200 in the middle before the flop, calling a reraise from Daniel Negreanu that set him all in. Negreanu turned up {A-Clubs}

, dominating Abecassis' {K-Spades}

. No help for him as the board ran out {K-Clubs}

and The Abacus hit the rail.

Meanwhile, Negreanu is up to 36,500.